Advice on Air Travel with 6 Month Old

Everyone elses suggestions are good. Pack light and gate check the stroller (we got a reclining umbrella stroller, so didn't have to take the travel system one...also, the airlines is not responsible for damages). We just took my then 5.5 month old daughter to Cali from Hawaii this past December...it was the long car rides that she wasn't too happy about.
But, depending on whether or not the flight is booked this may or may not work...my husband booked us for the two aisle seats in the middle section of the plane (3 seaters), hoping the middle seat wouldn't get taken and we'd have an extra seat between the two of us for baby. Luckily it worked so we had a pretty comfortable flight both ways with a little extra room at no cost. The crew on Hawaiian were really accommodating too. My daughter got a bit bored (even with all the toys...new and old) but taking her walking down the aisles to look at everyone else made her happy. Good luck. It definitely is an experience.

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My husband and I took our son to the Bahamas when he was six months old. We flew from Seattle to Dallas to Ft. Lauderdale to Nassau...it was quite a day! My husband and I had actually got food poisoning and were feeling AWFUL the entire trip down, but our son actually did great! I was expecting the worse, as he had just started crawling and was, like yours, very squirmy. We brought TONS of toys in our carry-on, and I was breastfeeding, so I pretty much just nursed him every time he got fussy! We didn't get a separate seat for him, which I would recommend--not even for a carseat, b/c like a 6-month old wants to sit in a carseat the entire time, but just so you can have the extra room. The airlines will usually sell you a discounted ticket for a baby under 2.
Our pediatrician also recommend trying Benadryl, as it makes some kids sleepy, but I didn't like the idea, so we didn't do it. Good thing, b/c as it turns out, our son gets HYPER on Benadryl (which is very common!). You'll need to talk to your son's dr. about dosage if you decide to try that, of course.
It was also recommended to us to either make sure you were breastfeeding or giving the baby a bottle when you're landing, as it helps the baby's ears pressurize correctly, since they don't know to yawn like adults do.
Good luck! It probably won't be as bad as you think--our son was so fascinated by all the people around, and lots of people would play peek-a-boo over the seats and stuff. People were surprisingly understanding!

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I travelled to Indiana this past summer with my son, who was 6 months old at the time. I nursed him during take-off and landing to alleviate any pressure changes in his ears. I sang to him, played with him, and rocked him if he seemed fussy, and at one point we fell asleep together. He did very well, I was surprised. My husband was deployed, so I was travelling by myself, and so if I can do it, anyone can!

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We took our 8 month old twins from cali to Maine, the doc told us to give them benedryl to make them sleepy but to try it in advance because in some cases it makes kids hyper... which it did for ours. We ended up taking a red eye, I made sure they were very tired and they slept on our chests for 90% of the 6 hour flight. Be careful of his ears popping, when going up and down have him sucking o something. I was a nervous wreck and it worked out. Mosy of the stress was over nothing.

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Hi! Be sure to have your son drinking at take off and landing. The swallowing helps with the change in altitude. Also, bring a couple of toys with you. You can bring one familiar toy for comfort and maybe one new toy to keep him preoccupied. You don't want too many though! Another thing to consider is try to keep your son awake until he gets to the gate. Going through security is hectic and it's rough when you have to wake them up. My daughter is 20 months old and has been on 14 flights! We were lucky enough that she slept on most of them. The plane really lulls them to sleep. Good Luck!

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Ah, traveling. We just got back from flying to Alaska to visit my mother in law. My 5 month old was great. I found that feeding the baby right after boarding helped to put her to sleep, we had a lay over in Seattle for a few hours, so I fed her when we got off the first plane and again, right after we boarded. She slept both flights. And the same thing worked coming back. I had warm clothes and cool clothes, dressed her in layers for the different temperatures on the planes, colorful but not too loud rattles, and she was on my lap going and coming back. I hope this helps!

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My son was 8 months old for his first flight...the trip there went off without a hitch...he looked out the window, ate a little potato salad, and was generally happy. Coming back, though, we got stuck at the airport and he didn't have a nap, so he was cranky and unhappy...so if at all possible, make sure he gets some sleep before he gets on the plane. A rested baby is a happy baby!

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Hi! We used to live in Indy and fly out to Seattle when our little guy was around 6mos old. I don't know if you can afford it, but having his own seat makes a world of difference. Also lots of bottles or whatever helps too, especially when you are landing. If you can schedule the flight around nap time, he may just sleep the whole time. That is what our boy did. Good luck and have fun!! Also, don't worry too much about the other passengers... Most are pretty understanding if he were to get upset and fussy.

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I have flown a couple times to Wa. state with my now 5 1/2 month son. my best advice is to arrive plenty early that way you can tell the check in person you are traveling with a baby.. then they well mark out the row for you and your hubby...also.. I find it best to fly in the evening so your baby can sleep easier... and lastly I dont know whether you nurse or bottle feed.. but if you try and feed him on lift off.. and take off it really helps pop their lil' ears. hope this helps...

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If you formula feed, take that ready to eat kind. It was way easier than trying to mess with powder and water on the plane. Also, take some crinkly toys for him to chew on and play with. We also took a small boppy pillow because we were travelling with our baby boy on our lap. It was a great place for him to sleep and relax when on the plane. I also suggest to take the stroller and check it at the plane gate. It was way easier than carrying him all through the airport.

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I traveled with ember when she was 1 1/2 months old. She slept through the flight and was a great baby to travel with. The problem I had was at check point. Instead of bring a stroller, I brought the snuggle baby pack. I wanted her close because I was traveling alone.

I just carried a diaper bag for carry on and checked in everything else.

The security gate made me take her out of the snuggle pack and place her in the bin. I had to remove the snuggle pack from my body and they ran it through the Xray along with the diaper bag. I had to give up the safety pins and babyspoon.

I had to unwrap her from her blankets and walk through the check point. I had to place her back in the gray bin because we set off the alarm.

I had to remove my shoes. It was the metal in my boots.
I put everything back together with no help~!! It was tough... SO the flight back I just carried her through check points...She was so small and snuggly anyhow...

I did feed her on take offs or she sucked on her pacifier to help with the ears. If you are going by yourself pack only what you need on board~ Less is best traveling with baby. You will have more time to tend to baby rather than baggage. And don't wear heal shoes or boots they will set off the alarms...

Have a safe and happy trip with your baby~!

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I flew with my son when he was 3 months, and again when he was 10 months. The best advice is: if you can afford to buy him his own seat, DO IT. or if you can't, try to fly at a time of day that is the least busy. Trying to hold a baby on your lap and keep him inertained for hours is not an easy task.

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Take something to suck on when lifting off or descending. This will help the pop of his ears and the crying will be reduced. Babies can't adjust to climate like us adults, the sucking helps, we learned this after the takeoff unfortunately(lots of crying).

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I traveled with my daughter at 4 months and at the end of this month, she'll be 7 months, we'll be doing it again.

I made sure to latch her on during take off and landing so her ears didn't hurt.

Also- if you take a stroller, I would highly recommend purchasing a cheap, easy to fold one. I brought my HUGE travel system stroller and since I was traveling alone I had to fold it up and place it on the xray belt while holding my baby not to mention take my shoes off, my jacket, her jacket, her shoes and still taking the video camera and lap top out of their cases. No one offered to help, both ways! So this time I will be buying a smaller dinky stroller. Even with your husband there to help it will be a lot.

Bring lots of toys, but chances are your little one will just pass right out! The white noise of the plane makes them sleepy!

Have a safe trip!

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Great age to travel with! Get it all in before he starts running around!

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I just took my 7 mos old and 20 month old to Australia. If I can handle 15 hours with 2 of them, Indiana should be a piece of cake! Buy a special toy that you bring out only after you have exhausted all measures! Flying red eye is great! And be sure to give a bottle with a VERY slow flow nipple for take off and landing. The sucking will help with the babies ears. Good luck!

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I have flown several times with my son from California to New York, Colorado, Florida and North Carolina when he was 5 months and again at 9 months. We chose evening to late flights so he would be sleepy already and then I nursed him during take-off and landing (if he woke up, which sometimes he didn't). The sucking action works for him like chewing gum for us and helps reduce the ear pain from pressure changes. He did great. Also try and carry as compact a carry on as possible. Airport security with a little one can be a real pain! Have a great trip!

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Well, when I had to travel with my oldest she was about the same age as your boy. I made sure that I had plenty of juice and water ready to mix in a bottle along with formula. That really helped with the taking off and landing with ears popping and such. I also brought a little bag full of things (ie toys and food) that I knew she loved. If you let him watch baby shows, a portable dvd player also works wonders. Always be prepared for the worst too. We had to wait an extra 8 hours for an unexpected lay over. I was glad that I brought her favorite blanket. Oh, and a little baby tylenol about 30 minutes before the flight is scheduled to leave helps too.

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I have traveled a bunch with my two boys. All the suggestions you have gotten have been good - lots of sucking on take off and landings, and keep him upright as much as possible. It helps any ear pain. Pack light, but he sure to bring a few extra diapers and an outfit for him. Bring an extra shirt for yourself also. Snacks and small toys go a long way for entertainment. Hopefully he'll just fall asleep. Have a nice trip!

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